The Belly of the Sea
Poster
CatalanEl ventre del mar
Directed byAgustí Villaronga
Written byAgustí Villaronga
Based onOcean Sea
by Alessandro Baricco
Produced byCesc Mulet
Javier Pérez Santana
StarringRoger Casamajor
Òscar Kapoya
CinematographyBlai Tomàs
Josep María Civit
Edited byBernat Aragonés
Production
companies
Testamento P.C.T.
La Perifèrica Produccions
Productions Link-Up
Turkana Films
Bastera Films
Distributed by
Release dates
  • April 2021 (2021-04) (MIFF)
  • 12 November 2021 (2021-11-12) (Spain)
Running time
76 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageCatalan

The Belly of the Sea (Catalan: El ventre del mar) is a 2021 Spanish drama film directed and written by Agustí Villaronga, based on the novel Ocean Sea by Italian writer Alessandro Baricco. It was shot in black and white and stars Roger Casamajor and Òscar Kapoya.

Plot

In June, 1816, the French frigate Alliance runs aground off the coast of Senegal. Without enough boats for everyone, a raft is built to tow 147 men to shore. But panic and confusion seize the convoy and cut the tow rope, abandoning the raft to its fate. Hunger, madness and a fierce fight break out on that drifting raft. Savigny, a ruthless medical officer, and Thomas, a rebellious private sailor, face each other with a different attitude to survive. A horror that lasted for days and days. A scene where the greatest of cruelties and the sweetest of pieties were shown.

Cast

  • Roger Casamajor as Savigny
  • Òscar Kapoya as Thomas
  • Muminu Diayo as Thèrese
  • Marc Bonnín as Markus

Production

The Belly of the Sea was produced by Testamento and La Perifèrica Produccions alongside Turkana Films, Link-up Barcelona and Bastera Films, with the participation of IB3 and TV3, funding from the ICAA, support from the ICEC, and the sponsoring of Fundació Mallorca Turisme and the Mallorca Film Commission.[1] It was fully shot in the island of Mallorca.[1]

Release

The film made its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) in April 2021 as part of the official competition.[2][1] In June 2021, it also screened at the Málaga Spanish Film Festival (FMCE), where it won six awards including the Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film.[3][4] It was likewise presented at the 69th San Sebastián International Film Festival, screened as part of the 'Made in Spain' section.[5] Distributed by Elástica Films and Filmin,[5] it was released in Spain on 12 November 2021.

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80.[6] Javier Ocaña from El País commented "it's not an easy film, although it is a relevant study on cowardice and ineptitude, abandonment and forgetfulness, which unfortunately extends through the ages".[7] Writing for Fotogramas, Beatriz Martínez rated the film four out of five stars, marvelling how, with a very low budget, Villaronga managed to create a masterpiece.[8]

Awards and nominations

Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
202143rd Moscow International Film FestivalCritics's Jury AwardThe Belly of the SeaWon[1]
24th Málaga Film Festival Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film The Belly of the Sea Won [3]
Silver Biznaga for Best Director Agustí Villaronga Won
Silver Biznaga for Best Screenplay Won
Silver Biznaga for Best Actor Roger Casamajor Won
Silver Biznaga for Best Score Marcús J.G.R. Won
Silver Biznaga for Best Cinematography Josep María Civit and Blai Tòmas Won
20229th Feroz AwardsArrebato Award (fiction film)Nominated[9]
77th CEC MedalsBest Adapted ScreenplayAgustí VillarongaNominated[10]
36th Goya AwardsBest Adapted ScreenplayAgustí VillarongaNominated[11]
14th Gaudí AwardsBest FilmNominated[12][13]
Best DirectorAgustí VillarongaNominated
Best ScreenplayAgustí VillarongaNominated
Best ActorRoger CasamajorNominated
Best Production SupervisionBàrbara FerrerNominated
Best Art DirectionSusy GómezNominated
Best EditingBernat AragonésNominated
Best Original MusicMarcús JGRNominated
Best CinematographyJosep M. Civit, Blai TomàsNominated
Best Costume DesignSusy Gómez, Pau AulíNominated
Best Visual EffectsAnna AragonèsNominated
Best Makeup and HairstylesAlma CasalNominated
Public's Choice Special Award for Best FilmNominated[12][14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "'El Vientre del mar' de Agustí Villaronga gana el Premio de la Crítica en el Festival de Cine de Moscú". Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte. 30 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "'El vientre del mar' de Agustí Villaronga, premiada por la crítica rusa". Audiovisual451. 30 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 Rivera, Alfonso (14 June 2021). "Agustí Villaronga nabs the top spot on the podium at the Málaga Film Festival". Cineuropa.
  4. ↑ Martínez, Luis (June 14, 2021). "'El vientre del mar' arrasa con 6 premios en el Festival de cine de Málaga". El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  5. 1 2 García, Alejandra (9 November 2021). "'El vientre del mar' – estreno en cines 12 de noviembre". Audiovisual451.
  6. ↑ "The Belly of the Sea (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ Ocaña, Javier (November 12, 2021). "'El vientre del mar': de un naufragio del siglo XIX a los cayucos de la inmigración actual". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  8. ↑ Martínez, Beatriz (November 10, 2021). "Crítica de 'El vientre del mar'". Fotogramas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Palmarés completo de los Premios Feroz Zaragoza 2022". Cinemanía. 30 January 2022 – via 20minutos.es.
  10. ↑ "'El amor en su lugar' arrasa en las Medallas CEC con hasta seis premios, todos los principales". Cine con Ñ. 10 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Ganadores Premios Goya 2022: Lista completa". El Mundo. 14 February 2022.
  12. 1 2 ""Las leyes de la frontera", la més nominada en uns Premis Gaudí molt disputats". 3/24. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 25 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Los ganadores de los Premios Gaudí 2022". El País. 7 March 2022.
  14. ↑ ""Mediterráneo", Premio Especial del Público a mejor filme en los Gaudí". Cadena COPE. 6 March 2022.
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